HINTS FOR APPLE TREE BUYERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7867, 1 August 1911, Page 2

HINTS FOR APPLE TREE BUYERS

After familiarising yourself with a list of such varieties as are deemed desirable for the local market, and also for the export trade, I ask you. to consideration to ivhat should bo avoided in the selection and planting of apple trees. , . . Nover buy a large number of varieties for a strictly commercial orchard. This is a common and serious mistake. Five varieties aro usually too many; three oro bettor, and a single ono may prove to bo the best of all. although often a second variety will help on fertilisation.. Never fail to have a succession of ■ apples for homo use. For this purpose a few trees ripening at different periods will be an advantage, ■ . Never liny many new or untried varieties, oven for tyome use. Let men of wealth and leisure make these costly tests.

Never buy your apple trees of an unknown travelling agent. It will likely result in dissatisfaction and is not businesslike.

Never fail to purchase your stock of f;ood reliable nurserymen. Men who lave a well-earned reputation are usually anxious to keep it, and will not knowingly practise deception. Never omit to learn as ranch as possible about how the trees yon expect to purchase have been propagated. Never deal with a nurseryman or propagator, no matter how thrifty and vigorous his slock may look, if bo is known to be careless in the selection of buds or scions. Carefully selected stock should bo insisted upon. Thoroughbred or pedigree fruit is just as important as thoroughbred and pedigree live stock. Either budding or grafting, if skilfully done, will give vigorous, long-lived, fruitful trees.

Never select trees for planting because they are large. As a rule, a well-grown, two-year-oil tree is better than ouo that is older. .

Never buy trees five or sis years old simply because they aro of good size and cheap. Apple trees sis years old and over are nearly worthless for establishing an orchard. A small or moderatesized tree at tho time of transplanting will almost invariably grow faster and ccme into bearing sooner than a larger tree set out. at the same time, because tho former is only slightly and the latter seriously checked .by removal Never forget that tho proper preparation for an apple orchard is deep, mellow soil, which will not become watersoaked. Wet feet kill apple trees as well as human beings. Never forget that in planting the line earth should bo sifted carefully among tho fibrous roots after they have been carefully spread with the fingers. Never plant much deeper than tho tree stood in tho nursery row. Never omit applying a 'mulch to young trees if there is tho slightest danger of a drought.

Neve-r forget that low, stout (not stunted) trees aro preferable to tall Blonder ones. ’

Never forget that a hardy, vigorous, productive variety, of medium quality is infinitely more desirable than a feeble-growing, shy-hearing variety of much better quality. Very, good ‘fruit